E-mail dated 9/14/09

The time is already short, so here it goes! This past week was pretty normal. Although on Friday I had one of the most amazing lessons with Kokuloku Mulbah. Kokuloku was baptized in March of this year and recently he has begun to fall less active. Knowing the ultimate result of this dangerous action we humbly went to him and tried to call him to repentance. I don't know how it happened but once we opened our mouths the spirit just took over. I was learning at the same time as kokulo, but I was the one saying it. We started out by asking him the characteristics of someone who comes unto Christ. He listed obedience to the commandments. We shared with him how the devil works and read 2 nephi 28:21 with him. How the devil will "pacify" us and "lull us into carnal security" meaning that he will make it feel like we are being filled when actually we are empty. We then told him a couple of stories from the scriptures. The rich young ruler in Mark 10 and the story of Amalikiah and lehonti in Alma 47. By the end of the lesson he said that he know he needs to change and he was touched. we both felt (Elder Stice and I, we were on splits that day) so amazing after the lesson. I decided that their comes a time in everyones lives when they have to decide if they will "step over the line" and follow Jesus Christ or allow themselves to be decieved by the devil.

I want you all to know that . . ."I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. the dye has been cast out. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down or be still. I am done with low living, small talking, and coulourless dreams, tamed visions, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be first, right, recognized, praised, reguarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His prescence, walk with patience, am uplifted with prayer and labor with power. my road is narrow. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the prescence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meader in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up or let up, until I have stayed up stored up and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till he come, give till I drop, preach till I know and work till he stops me. And when he returns for His own he will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear." -henry b eyring-

I love you all and have an awesome week.

Elder Degen

rice is life